Soapwort: Lovely in the Garden, Green Clean in Your Home!

Growing:

Soapwort is a self-seeding, prolific perennial. It can get up to three foot high, and spreads like mad – don’t plant it near a fish pond or other water fixture unless you want dead fish. Many aquatic creatures will die from saponins, and all over the world, people have used saponin-rich plants to disable or kill fish for easy capture! The plant may even cause harm to fish in a small pond without moving water. It can easily tolerate poor soil and drought conditions, though. Plant it near peppermint and watch the battle for territory commence! Wild soapwort can often be found among lakes and riverbanks, moist ditches, and waste places.

You can start soapwort from seeds, or propagate by splitting the rootstock.

Harvest:

The roots contain the most saponins, but any part of the whole plant will work to get you clean! Collect the leaves and stems when the plants are in full flower for optimal saponins. You can harvest a few times, really – if you trim the plants back once during flowering, you might get a second round of blooms. I’ve often just harvested and dried the stems and flowers for my own use, but the way my soapwort patch is spreading, I’ll definitely dig some roots this fall.

How to Use Soapwort:

Soapwort contains saponins, which create the soap-like cleaning action. Saponins are the part of the plant chemistry that creates an effective cleaning foam, a lather that has can dissolve fats and grease! Even though it works like a powerhouse, Soapwort is gentle enough to use on old fabrics, the bodies of wee tiny babies, and sensitive skin – trust me, I’m the posterchild for sensitive skin. It is fine for external use, but like other saponin-heavy plants, Soapwort is not recommended for internal use!

Heavy Duty Household Cleanser:

2 Cups of fresh chopped soapwort leaves and stems (or 1 cup dried)

1 Quart distilled water

Add soapwort leaves to boiling water and cover the pan. Simmer for fifteen minutes or so, let cool, and strain it through cheesecloth or a kitchen towel. You can also add a drop or two rosemary, mint, or citrus essential oil for a pleasant scent, if you like.

Gentle Cleanser for Delicate Fabrics:

This is fantastic for real wool, old silk, grandma’s quilt, lace, embroidery, or tatting.

1 Cup of fresh soapwort leaves (or half a cup of dried)

Pint of water

Add soapwort leaves to boiling water and cover the pan. Simmer for fifteen minutes or so, let cool, and strain it through cheesecloth or a kitchen towel. Do not add any essential oils to this, just leave it plain.

Shampoo and Body Wash:

Soapwort shampoo is a little less concentrated than the all-purpose cleaner. It is truly a gentle cleanser for problem hair, as it doesn’t strip all of the oils away. And this is more than just shampoo – this recipe also makes a good facewash for sensitive skin, and helps with acne and psoriasis.

This recipe is for a single use, but you can triple or quadruple this recipe and store the rest in the fridge for up to a week! Just give it a good shake before use, and brace yourself for the nice cool wash! This isn’t as bubbly as regular shampoo, but if you use a Foaming Pump Soap Dispenser, you will get a more familiar foam to put on your hair or face.

3 Tablespoons fresh soapwort (1 tablespoon dried)

1 Cup water (distilled)

Add soapwort leaves to boiling water and cover the pan. Simmer for fifteen minutes or so, let cool, and strain it through cheesecloth or a kitchen towel. Use this to get a gentle wash. You can also use any of the following herbs to add to the pot with the soapwort for skin and hair:

Mint

Lavender

Rose Petals

Hibiscus (red hair)

Chamomile (fair hair)

Rosemary (dark hair)

Nettles

Sage

Calendula

And there’s so many more to choose from!

You can follow it up with a vinegar rinse, or use any of the above herbs brewed as tea for a conditioning rinse.

Whether for grandma’s quilts, lace, and tatting; or for your baby’s bath; or your own skin and hair – Soapwort is a great alternative to industrial soaps. It is lovely to behold in the yard, so try soapwort today.